Living Cost Compare
Bismarck

North Dakota

$960/mo est.

vs
Bridgeport

Connecticut

$1,440/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $960 in Bismarck, ND versus $1,440 in Bridgeport, CT. Overall, Bismarck, ND is roughly 33% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bridgeport, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,608 in Bismarck, ND and $56,584 in Bridgeport, CT — about 27% higher in Bismarck, ND. North Dakota has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax; Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax.

Bismarck, ND
Bridgeport, CT

Rent

Studio
$723
$950
+31% in Bridgeport, CT
1 Bedroom
$803
$1,181
+47% in Bridgeport, CT
2 Bedroom
$989
$1,508
+52% in Bridgeport, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,421
$1,639
+15% in Bridgeport, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$291,400
$252,400
+13% in Bismarck, ND

Income

Median Household Income
$77,608
$56,584
+27% in Bismarck, ND
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$52,560
$61,470
+17% in Bridgeport, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.2 yr
36.4 yr
+1.8 yr in Bismarck, ND
Homeownership
65.8%
43.3%
+22.5 pp in Bismarck, ND
Bachelor's+ (25+)
38.7%
23.1%
+15.6 pp in Bismarck, ND
Avg Commute
15.5 min
29.9 min
+14.4 min in Bridgeport, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
278
401.7
+44% in Bridgeport, CT
Property Crime
2,417.1
1,478.4
+39% in Bismarck, ND

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
43.0°F
52.5°F
+9.5°F in Bridgeport, CT
Annual Precipitation
17.9 in
42.7 in
+24.9 in in Bridgeport, CT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Bridgeport, CT

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
24.3
+72% in Bridgeport, CT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$18.21
$23.33
+28% in Bridgeport, CT

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.92
+16% in Bridgeport, CT
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Bismarck, ND
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.90
+2% in Bridgeport, CT
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.19
+4% in Bridgeport, CT
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Bridgeport, CT

Average prices — Midwest vs Northeast (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ND / CT)
5%
6.35%
+1.3 pp in CT
Income Tax (top rate)
2.50%
6.99%
+4.5 pp in CT

Bismarck vs Bridgeport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bismarck or Bridgeport?
Bismarck, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Bridgeport, CT's $1,440, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bismarck than in Bridgeport?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $32,000 a year in Bismarck versus $47,000 in Bridgeport.
Which has lower taxes, Bismarck or Bridgeport?
Bismarck is taxed under North Dakota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax); Bridgeport under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).